I LOVE YOU SO
Chapter Eighteen
❛ Dream Her Concerns Away. ❜

DREAMING. A POPULAR form of escapism. The beauteous worlds created by the inner mind. It forms whenever one needs to get away. Or to run away from reality. Temporarily, it makes one happy, but after awhile, no one can really get rid of the brutal truth.

The harsh reality.

"Of course the infuriating brat is sleeping, we're all working our backs off and the little bastard is doing nothing," tutting under her breath, Mi-nyeo brought up a piece of metal and let it clang against the side of Aera's bed loudly, earning herself a few looks.

The make believe island that Aera always dreamt about, began to fade away from existence, leaving her empty handed and only fear crawling on to her back. Her eardrums felt tender as the room bustled, bringing her palms towards the sides of her temple, she rubbed them. Beginning to feel lightheaded as her vision pixelated as she got up, she gripped on to a frame, the surface was rough from some blood that dried on it.

Glancing slowly around her, a small yawn stumbled from her lips, moistening her eyes for a few moments. Not being cautious enough, a large bed frame swooped over her head, yelping, she ducked down just in time, "Ali! Trying to decapitate my head now are we? I quite like my head, I don't feel like losing it today." With both hands rested on her scalp, Aera's eyes landed on Ali who shrugged their shoulders sheepishly with a guilty smile.

"Sorry Hwang Aera!" Ali chirped.

Placing a hand on her hip for stability with a heartened smile, Aera waved it off, "you're good!" She gave him a thumbs up as he walked into the distance.

Stopping short with an emphatic sigh, another tut fell out of Mi-nyeo's lips as she sent a scowl towards Aera, "look at who decided to join the crew," looking around her shoulders with an obnoxious guffaw, "did you have a good sleep," Mi-nyeo asked sarcastically.

Nearing Mi-nyeo, Aera tried to mock her expression with a suppressed eye roll, "guess what? I did- I've never had such a nice sleep," gritting her teeth, her awkward stance was almost a give away to her lie. The whole twenty minutes, her limbs were bubbling with pain. At every breath, a twinge of agony ripped at her muscles- the Tug-of-War game injured most parts of her body.

"Is that so," raising a brow with her arms crossed, with disbelief clouding Mi-nyeo's eyes, she began to feel bored with talking to Aera and started to gather some pillows.

"Mhm." Staring, unfocused, at floor that was adorned with piles of blankets, Aera scratched at her leg, the bedsheets that wrapped around the room made her skin feel itchy. "What are you guys even doing? Are we redecorating, because I was thinking of that too. It'd be a lot more encouraging if we could add a few decors from home."

"How does this girl get even more dumb each day-"

"I swear, Mi-nyeo, I'll shove your cigarettes right up your fucking-"

"We're creating barricades," earning a dramatic scoff from Mi-nyeo, the blanket felt feathery under Ji-yeong's fingers, with another soft blanket draped over her shoulder, she tilted her head towards a puzzled Aera, "it's so that asshole over there doesn't kill us tonight," she stated bluntly.

"That damn bastard," the pillow almost bursted from how tightly Mi-nyeo was clutching it, a sizzle of rage rushed into her veins, "I'd kill him with my own bare hands if I got the chance to."

"That's actually really clever. Who knows what that jerk would do. I'll try to help as much as I can," dragging herself over towards the right, with her injured leg being a burden, Aera sucked in a long breath through her teeth as she tried yanking a rectangular piece of metal from an abandoned bed. The mattress was gone, perhaps used for another wall, leaving only the blank piece of metal Aera was trying to get.

"Here let me help you," Gi-hun rushed over to aid Aera with his arms spread out, crouching slightly, her gripped on to the piece of black metal tightly.

Startled, a genuine grin illustrated itself on to Aera's fatigued expression, "thank you Gi-hun!" Receiving a sweet smile that spread across Gi-hun's face, they both grimaced as they tried hauling the metal from its bed frame.

"How's your leg holding up?" Taking most of the metal's weight, he flickered his eyes onto Aera's worrisome leg, one that was wrapped messily, yet carefully in a thick layer of makeshift bandages, "do you feel any better?"

"Thanks to you, it feels like it's healing already," tapping her leg lightly, she nodded at Gi-hun reassuringly as he chuckled softly, her chest warmed from how grateful she was for his compassion, without him, she would've bled out from how large the wound was. "Though, it feels really itchy, I just want to take it off already-"

Catching Aera's arm before she could lift the layers of bandages away, an alarmed expression sprung upon Gi-hun's face, "no, no you shouldn't it could get infected," sighing in relief when Aera muttered an 'oh okay' and took away her palm, he straightened his back, "if it's itchy, then that's good. It means that your wound is fixing itself quickly."

Tilting her head, feeling a little curious as to how he knew so much about caring for injuries, Aera shrugged it off as a thankful smile eased its way across her lips, "I really appreciate it Gi-hun," inclining her head, she let out a lighthearted chuckle, "what would the team do without you?"

"Absolutely nothing-"

"Hey give yourself a little credit here Gi-hun, you're the reason why most of us are here," patting his arm, a bashful grin plastered itself onto Gi-hun's humble face as his cheeks warmed, Aera nodded at him.

The two continued to drag the piece of metal across the floor, even with two people it was arduous. But they managed to bring it over towards the other side, making it ready to act as a wall. Turning to face the others with curiosity within Aera's eyes, "you know that Deok-su guy?" Aera asked them all timidly.

Hearing Aera's quiet voice, Mi-nyeo yelled from behind Ji-yeong's shoulder, "oh I know him."

Scrunching up her face, Aera's eyebrows pulled together greatly, "gross," dragging her eyes away from a chuckling Mi-nyeo, Aera steadied herself again before lifting the piece of black metal over her shoulder, "that's not what I meant," shuddering at the thought, Aera took a deep breath.

"It's true though."

"Anyways," glaring at Mi-nyeo, Aera sighed deeply before continuing, "I can't help but notice him staring at my broken leg all the time. Like he's won an award for doing it, and, I can see the hungry, bloodthirsty look in his eyes- it scares me a lot because sometimes it feels like he's actually going to kill me."

Bringing her fists towards her side, she brought the down so that they smashed against the black piece of metal, causing it to rattle loudly, Aera continued her rambling, "and when I see him like that, all I want to shout is: 'NO DEOK-SU I WON'T LET YOU KILL ME!" Feeling the concerned eyes drill onto her body, Aera casted her eyes downwards and continued to drag the piece of black metal coyly.

Sae-byeok lowered her hands with a tense jaw, "he does that?" Flickering her enraged eyes over towards the insane and psychotic brute, that was beginning to stroll over, she swallowed her spit hastily, a bundle of fury rattled through Sae-byeok's veins.

"Yeah," Aera croaked out, a whole new level of fear coated her eyes as she scanned Sae-byeok's uneasy pupils, ones that darted between both Aera's eyes as her features softened. "It's scary, but I'm not scared of him, honestly I think he should be scared of me," she drifted her eyes on to Sae-byeok's fingers that were gripping delicately on her forearm, quite immediately a rush of heat shot up Aera's arm.

Sae-byeok's chuckled lightly and inclined her head with a pointed look, "I guess you can be scary sometimes."

"Sometimes?"

"You're safe here Aera," placing a gentle hand on to Aera's shoulder, kindness filled Gi-hun's eyes as he motioned towards Deok-su who was storming over, "we won't let him get to you."

Nodding appreciatively with her shoulders sinking in relief, a flood of reassurance entered Aera's veins as she sent Gi-hun a tiny nod, "I won't let him get to me," patting his hand, the both of them dragged the large piece of black metal on to the floor, making it clang heavily, "but thank you Gi-hun."

"Hey, Ssangmun-dong," a low chuckle rocketed out of Deok-su's lips as a beast like grin scratched onto his face, "hey, I appreciate the work you're doing," he taps on to a piece of metal which resounded loudly, "nice," Deok-su then returned his deathly stare on to the pair, "but do you think these will do anything? We can get through this easily."

Turning her head towards Gi-hun who had an anxious expression tugging on his features, Aera stepped forwards with a deep glower, "the real question is- would you do anything? It's so sad to think that you enjoy killing innocent people with such a proud smile. When will you realise that this monstrosity is down right disgusting? This shouldn't be part of the norm, whether it's part of the games or not."

"What makes you think that I'll stop? I broke your leg," he chuckled at the sight of Aera gulping hastily with her shoulders quivering slightly, "I can easily snap your neck in five different ways."

"You're a sick, sick, sick man," almost spitting on Deok-su's face, Aera pulled a wry face, her lips curled as she frowned.

"You should watch your back," sneering with a dangerous glare, he bared his teeth, "the moment you turn it, I'll be right behind you."

"You're not worried at all?" Gi-hun cut in as he placed an arm in front of the two to refrain them from causing a physical fight. With his eye brows raised, he nodded towards Deok-su's cronies when the brute tilted his head, "those scumbags you got on your side over there? Are they people you truly trust?"

Watching as the proud face Deok-su held crumbled ever so, a wriggle of a smile coursed its way through Aera's already grinning face, tapping her fingers along the surface of the cold black piece of metal, "I think you should be the one to watch your back," grinning smugly when Deok-su faced her with an uneasy glance, Aera feigned a friendly smile at him.

"If that was me there . . ." Flickering his eyes towards the digital clock that counted down to a possible war, "once the fighting starts to happen, you'll be the first person I'd go for," Gi-hun finished.

"Not so tough are you now?" Leaning her arm against the mattress that separated them, with a low quiet, yet perilous tone, Aera leant her chin against her palm, a glimmer of self-confidence flew by her eyes, "better stay away or we'll all be after you."

Straightening his back and resting his arm on to the soft mattress as well, "exactly," Gi-hun could tear at Deok-su's soul with the extreme steady glare he sent, "you're the strongest one here."

Fixating his eyes on the brute once more, the metal slid sideways as Gi-hun and Aera used all their might to shift it over, concealing them from possible danger. Thus a silence draped over everyone's shoulders, the only obnoxious sound that filled it, was the constant ticking of the electronic clock.

"What do we do now Gi-hun?" Shifting tensely on the balls of her feet, Aera clenched and unclenched her palms, ready to strike at at any wicked beasts that dared to attack her team. Pausing on her movements when Gi-hun patted her shoulder, "should we gather some weapons or something? In case they break down these walls," Aera asked.

"That would be a good idea, I'll collect some weapon worthy materials later, we should have a talk with the others first though, get everyone on the same page," sighing gingerly as if on edge, a tight-lipped smile found its way across his face as he blinked at the large clock.

"Got it," saluting with a determined grin, Aera flickered her eyes towards her team briefly, before a spare piece of bed frame, that was discarded under a bed, caught her attention.

Crouching downwards with her leg seething with torture, the bedsheets that was wrapped around it only tightened, causing it to feel slightly benumbed. Wrapping her fingers around the cold metal, a sense of familiarity visited Aera as she smiled gingerly, it was just like the metal she used to defend herself when Deok-su attacked her. Sliding it under her arm, she used it as an alternative for a crutch, it jabbed at her armpits though, but she didn't complain, the metal made it a whole lot easier to walk.

Hobbling over to where everybody was seated, the all crowded around the centre of the hideout they created, murmuring a "sorry," when she had to get past player 001 to sit with Sae-byeok. Aera let the crutch rest against the stairs below her as she squeezed her eyes shut whilst settling on to a step.

"That's no problem," 001 had a broad smile engraved on his puckered face, one that always seemed to form whenever he interacted with Aera. There was always a sort of unknown glint within his eyes, begging to be known, but 001 conceals it with his broad smile, almost as if he was entertained by a matter only he knew.

"They'll switch the lights off soon. They might not all come right away. So we better swap out who's going to keep watch, just to be safe, I think," Gi-hun rushed away from the side and crouched down before them.

Aera flopped down and tried to get comfortable on the hard stairs, dropping her hands and resting them on top her knees. A puff of cherries and matcha filled Aera's senses as she slowly leaned her head against Sae-byeok's thigh. Sae-byeok caught her breath warily, her limbs became uptight. Almost too dumbfounded to move, that area of her thigh ignited with a strong surge of heat, as the weight of Aera's head rested on top of it.

"This okay?" Barely lifting her head back up, Aera's gentle rich eyes fluttered over towards Sae-byeok's soft ones.

Swallowing thin air, leaving the surface of her throat scratchy, "yeah," Sae-byeok whispered almost in a hushed pitch, her tiny rapid breaths caused her chest to arise and fall uncontrollably as her eyes lingered on Aera's, "yeah, yeah it is."

Unable to think of what to do with herself, Sae-byeok timorously played with a strand of Aera's hair and twirled it around her finger repeatedly. She had to blink a few times to regain her balance, a slither of a grin danced on Sae-byeok's cherry coloured lips. A light thunder of a yawn fell out of Aera's lips as she listened to Gi-hun's idea, she inclined her head tiredly.

Cutting into the conversation, Sang-woo added his input, "no, the two of us should watch. A pair can keep each other awake."

This made Aera jolt upwards, tilting her neck so that she could look upwards, she sent Sae-byeok a tiny smile, "you and me? Do you want to stay up?"

Sae-byeok was still focusing on Sang-woo, feeling skeptical about him due to how questionable his aura was. A small tug could be felt on the bottom of her trousers. Flickering her eyes downwards, Sae-byeok inhaled sharply as her hard gaze morphed into a more gentle one.

Sae-byeok always thought that she held a cold front, but she couldn't tell that her own expression always altered into a more tender one when her eyes landed on Aera. "I don't see a problem with it," Sae-byeok murmured next to Aera's ear.

Breathing sharply, trying to regain her balance, "I don't mind staying up," bringing her chin back down, Aera faced the others with her hand up as if she were in a classroom, "I want to stay up, I mean," almost shivering, a dull glint sparked in her eyes as her shoulders hunched over slightly, "it's hard to fall asleep sometimes. Not when I get scarring and repulsive memories of what's happened over the past few days- and, and I can't help but dread what could happen tonight. I'm not taking any chances of dying. Or anyone dying really."

Untwisting the strand of Aera's hair that was wrapped around her finger, Sae-byeok kept her eyes downwards. "I'll stay up too," murmuring to herself, to the point where only Aera could hear, Sae-byeok drummed her fingers, delicately against Aera's shoulder, for a moment she could feel Aera shiver under her touch before relaxing her shoulders.

"I can . . . be first if you don't mind," player 001 volunteered as he peered over his shoulder for confirmation from Aera.

"Of course sir," Aera inclined her head briefly with a polite smile.

001 earned a hasty nod, which made him smile brightly as he slowly brought his attention back on Gi-hun, "thank you for allowing me to. You don't really sleep a lot when you're old."

With her mind drifting away from the actual focus of the conversation, a usual habit. Aera began to imagine Jeju Island once again in her head, one that became a comforting place to be, mentally, it was her number one form of escapism.

Doubt often seeped into the atmosphere as she thought about where her brother may be. With hope slipping through her fingers, Aera desperately tried to grasp on to it, but there's no avail, she didn't even know if In-ho was still alive- Jun-ho too.

To escape this negativity and extremely futile situation, Aera liked to dream her concerns away, or so she thought. In reality she was pushing the severe truth into the deeper crevices of her brain.

There's no escaping the trauma.

Sae-byeok noticed how rigid Aera was being against her thigh. Putting a pause on drumming her gentle fingers against Aera's soft cheek, that had specks of dust littering the surface of it and the bridge of her nose, a delicate sigh escaped from Sae-byeok's pink lips as she flickered her eyes on to Aera's inattentive expression.

"Are you sure you want to stay up?" Sae-byeok knitted her eyebrows tightly together, causing her forehead to wrinkle slightly as she mindlessly trailed her finger onto Aera's jaw and traced it tenderly.

To be quite frank, Aera didn't seem at all in the right state to be staying up, her muscles screamed to rest, but she was determined to guard her fellow team mates. It was a chance to convince herself that she was redeeming herself. This was a chance to somehow keep her teammates, other people, alive. She didn't get a chance to do that in the previous games- this was Aera's chance.

As Sae-byeok dragged her finger along Aera's jaw, it was as if she was tugging Aera away from the dreamy, dewy dreamland her mind had created. The hazy clouds that morphed in with the coral skies, the sapphire waves that rushed in on the mushy sand began to fade away as Aera began to realise she was still within the callous facility. But with how her jaw prickled and tickled softly, Aera flickered her eyes towards Sae-byeok as she drew a sharp breath.

Aera was glad that Sae-byeok was surviving this with her, she would've perished way before she stepped into the facility if it weren't for Sae-byeok.

"I asked you something, you better answer or . . ." in a hushed tone, one that was playful and not serious, Sae-byeok hovered her hand just above Aera's jawline, which caused the tiny hairs on Aera's skin to tingle feebly, Sae-byeok's gentle breath flurried across Aera's small nose.

"Or what," Aera shakily answered, whilst scrunching up her button nose mindlessly.

Tracing the lines delicately that were created on Aera's nose from wrinkling it, a tiny whisper left Sae-byeok's lips, "I'll rip your throat out."

Blinking slowly in reminiscence over their first encounter, her cheeks bloomed a light pink, her chest swelling, "not if I rip your heart out first." Aera only chuckled softly, still being out of focus.

The both of them stayed firm, yet the insides of their chests were being hammered by their hearts softly, yet harshly as the pulse increased. Getting immensely flustered, a flood of pink painted Aera's cheeks as she began to breathe in sharp and short breaths. She stayed rooted to the spot.

Every individual eyelash that decorated Sae-byeok's kind eyes, could be seen from Aera's angle, and even though it hurt to crane her neck upwards to face Sae-byeok, Aera would gladly count each eyelash, even if it costed her life. The shuffling from the players surrounding them began to dissipate, everything around them was blurry.

Gulping gingerly, the question Sae-byeok asked seemed to flitter through Aera's mind. Blinking slowly with her limbs feeling like they were burning, Aera let out a jittery chuckle which caused a soft grin to crawl on to the corner of Sae-byeok's lips. "We should get some rest before we stay up."

Sae-byeok covered her unexpected smile with a tiny cough, the tip of her ears going red as she covered her mouth. Inclining her head lightly, "you're right," not even noticing their intertwined hands, the warm feeling within Sae-byeok's chest swelled.

"Let's go then," not budging until Sae-byeok did, the moony gaze that glimmered within Aera's eyes never left as she fiddled with the hair tie that was wrapped around Sae-byeok's wrist.

"Hmm," Sae-byeok hummed to herself, causing her limbs to vibrate slightly from the sound. Aera's ear drums tingled from the soft noise. Staying firmly seated, Sae-byeok didn't move, as if she refused to, as if her head begged her not to.

The lights dimmed and clicked off, some distant sounds of loose screws from the hanging lights could be heard. Still, the massive piggy bank emitted its yellow hues against the room below. The warm glow patterned itself on to both the girl's faces, making them see each other's soft features faintly.

If there was a way to stop the clock from ticking, the two of them would end it in a heartbeat, so that they wouldn't have to live in fear of the facility taking each other's lives- ripping them from each other's arms.

( 3939 words )

DEAR ALL,

Hey besties you guys are not ready for the next chapter 🤚

More Gi-hun and Aera as a duo because last chapter was lacking it🤝 I've got you guys☮️

Also to my active commenters Ily guys sm you guys get a special shoutout💐🥰💟

Anyways I'm nodding off, have a good one guys🫂‼️

WITH LOVE, SYLVIA